Bob Vander Weide steps down as Orlando Magic chief executive officer

Bob Vander Weide is stepping down as the Orlando Magic's chief executive officer, team officials announced Tuesday morning.

Alex Martins has been promoted from team president to CEO.

Speaking to the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday morning, Martins said team officials had contact with Dwight Howard on Monday, with Howard having an in-person meeting with General Manager Otis Smith and contact with Vander Weide.

Martins said Vander Weide's decision to step down has nothing to do with Howard, who can become a free agent after the 2011-12 season. Martins said Vander Weide had been planning to step down for months but wanted to wait until the NBA's labor dispute was resolved.

Vander Weide, 53, had served on the NBA's labor-relations and planning committees.

Martins said the team would not comment on any specifics about team officials' conversations with Howard, but Martins did say that the team expressed its interest in keeping Howard for years to come.

"We've built a championship-caliber organization for him, and we believe that this is his home," Martins said. "He can own this city for the rest of his caeer, like the Brett Favres and the Albert Pujols of the world. They've been with their franchises for the most part other than the end of Favre's career, stayed with their franchises and built championship organizations around them in what would be considered small- to mid-size markets.

"And Dwight Howard can be the NBA equivalent of that, and we're going to do everything we can do to make that occur. In the end, it's his decision, but we're going to give him every opportunity, every asset, every reason to be here for the rest of his career."

Dan DeVos, who is Rich DeVos' son, will take on the responsibilities as the team's chairman. Dan DeVos will serve as the DeVos family's primary conduit with front-office officials on team matters.